fussed over to his heart's content. Pat
offered to take him home for Chicken Little, and after much coaxing and
scolding, Pete finally consented to hop on Pat's arm and permit himself
to be carried homeward.

The little girls went on to the party pink with excitement. They could
hardly wait to tell of Pete's adventure. Everybody wished they had
brought the parrot with them. However, the doll contest soon absorbed
their attention.

Chicken Little's Victoria proved a great favorite, but Grace Dart's
Stella was beautiful to see in her rose pink silk. The children Oh-ed
and Ah-ed over her hat and parasol.

Generous little Gertie worked hard for Victoria even going so far as to
tell the children that Victoria was such a good doll--she most never
cried. Katy was inclined to favor Stella. More than one little girl
loyally voted for her own child. Others offered to vote for their
friends' dolls if they in turn would vote for theirs.

The dolls were examined and compared most critically. Many of the little
mothers took the matter very much to heart and resented any criticism.
Gertie picked her Minnie up and cuddled her tenderly after a thoughtless
child had hurt dolly's feelings by exclaiming, "What a homely doll!"

Chicken Little's eyes shone as she saw the many admiring glances
Victoria received. She naively showed her off, putting her to sleep and
waking her up to display her blue eyes and long fringed lashes or making
her cry "Mamma" when the other children asked to hold her. She looked at
Stella a little enviously. It would be so nice to have Victoria get the
prize. Jane had never had a prize except once in Sunday School for
learning the most Scripture texts. May Halford was displaying the
mysterious box wrapped in white paper that contained it and everyone was
eager to know what it was.

Many were the guesses. Several children felt the box, but May kept the
secret. Chicken Little looked at it longingly. It might be a hat and
parasol like Stella's--it might be a silk dress. She wished she knew.

When the little white slips of paper were finally passed around each
little girl was asked to write the name of the doll she admired most and
fold it up so no one could see. Jane looked sober. She was tempted to do
something she felt would not be quite nice. She had firmly resolved to
vote for Gertie's doll because Gertie had been so sweet about Victoria,
but suppose Victoria needed just one more vote to get the prize. Chick